
FEATURES OF THE FLORA OF 
MOUNT RAINIER NATIONAL PARK 


DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR 
OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY 
1916 


For sale by the Superintendent of Documents, Government Printing Office, Washington, D. C. Price 25 cents 
























































































.R 


PUBLICATIONS OF MOUNT RAINIER NATIONAL PARK SOLD BY 
THE SUPERINTENDENT OF DOCUMENTS. 


Remittances for these publications should be by money order, payable to the 
Superintendent of Documents, Government Printing Office, Washington, D. C., or 
in cash. Checks and postage stamps can not be accepted. 

Forests of Mount Rainier National Park, by G. F. Allen. 1916. 32 pages, including 

27 illustrations. 20 cents. 

Contains descriptions of the forest cover and the principal species. 

Mount Rainier and Its Glaciers, by F. E. Matthes. 1914. 48 pages, including 26 

illustrations. 15 cents. 

Contains a general account of the glaciers of Mount Rainier and of the development of the valleys 
and basins surrounding the peak. 

Panoramic view of Mount Rainier National Park, 20 by 19 inches, scale 1 mile to the 
inch. 25 cents. 

f 


D. of D. 

MAY 1 1916 







FEATURES OF THE FLORA OF MOUNT RAINIER NATIONAL PARK. 


By J. B. Flett. 


GENERAL STATEMENT. 

Ill a general treatment of the flora of Mount Rainier National Park 
we must bear in mincl the fact that the mountain is located near the 
center of the park and that the park extends down into the dense 
forest, thus -giving a varied and extensive flora. 

For convenience the park may be divided into five zones: 

1. The lower area near the boundary, between elevations of 2,000 
and 2,800 feet, is composed of wide river valleys covered with large 
trees around which are woven masses of moss, liverworts, lichens, 
and ferns. These plants also form a beautiful cover for the forest 
floor. 

2. The upper forest region between elevations of 2,800 and 4,000 
feet is characterized by trees covered with gray hanging forms of 
lichens, smaller trees, and a gradual transition to alpine types. 

3. Between 4,000 and 5,500 feet trees are found in groups distinctly 
alpine alternating with grassy meadows. 

4. From 5,500 feet to timber line. 

5. Rocky ridges and pumice fields above timber line. 

THE FIRST ZONE. 

The first of these zones begins at about an altitude of 2,000 feet, 
which is the altitude of the river valleys. These valleys, which radi¬ 
ate from the mountain, are of glacial origin. They are broad at their 
lower ends, but as they approach the mountain they become more 
narrow and their sides are more precipitous. Aside from their shape 
the thing that strikes the careful observer is the splendid forest of 
large trees and the odd forms of plant life which form the beautiful 
forest cover. These two conditions are nowhere seen to better 
advantage. 

The principal tree m these valleys near the park boundary is the 
Douglas fir, a well known tree, as it is the most common and the 
most valuable tree in the Puget Sound region. 1 The stranger may 

1 The forest trees are described in a publication entitled “ Forests of Mount Rainier National Park,” 
which may be purchased from the Superintendent of Documents, Government Printing Office, Wash¬ 
ington, D. C., for 20 cents. 

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FLORA OF MOUNT RAINIER NATIONAL PARK. 


recognize it by its thick bark, cleft into long perpendicular furrows 
on tbe large trees, and by the leaves surrounding the branches, from 
which hang numerous cones with projecting bracts. The next tree 
in value is the white cedar, Thuja plicata. This is easily recognized 
by its arbor-vitae like foliage, its thin fibrous bark and spreading 
base. It is the only cedar or cedarlike tree in that forest until the 
upper limit where the Alaska cedar begins to come in. The lowland 
western hemlock is perhaps second in abundance. It may be recog¬ 
nized by its small cones and short foliage silvery white on the lower 
side of the branches and by its drooping plumelike top, while all the 
firs have erect tops. There are three true firs scattered through this 
forest, namely, the lovely, Abies amabilis, the silver, Abies grandis, 
and the noble, Abies nobilis. The lovely fir is sometimes called larch 
by the lumbermen, thus confusing it with a tree which does not grow 
on the western slope of the Cascades. The lovely fir has scaly bark 
somewhat like the spruce and a dome shaped top. The foliage is 
not white underneath; the tree has large purple cones without ex- 
serted bracts, which grow only on the top of the tree. The silver 
fir grows rather sparingly throughout this zone. It can be recog¬ 
nized by its leaves, which are of three different lengths and twisted 
so that they lie nearly in the same plane on opposite sides of the 
branch, thus giving it a flat appearance. The branches are generally 
silvery white underneath, hence the popular name. The bark is often 
white, hence sometimes called white fir. It has small green cones 
without exserted bracts. This tree flourishes best among alder and 
cottonwood where there is an abundance of moisture and extends 
from sea level to about 4,000 feet. The lumber is classed with hem¬ 
lock by the lumbermen. The noble fir is not abundant in this zone. 

The deciduous trees of this zone are the broad-leafed maple, the 
vine maple, the alder, and cottonwood. The broad-leafed maples 
are noted for their dense foliage. In the dense forest of tall conifers 
they often take on an enormous growth of moss, liverworts, lichens, 
and ferns, which gives them a superficial resemblance to a tropical 
epiphytic forest, while the vine maples, small and tough, bend over 
to the ground, forming many fantastical curves and tangles almost 
impenetrable to the experienced woodsman. These tangles are often 
made up of several other troublesome shrubs, such as the devil’s club, 
Echinopanax horridum, with its irritating spines, broad palmate 
leaves, and red berries. The cascara, an alderlike small tree, is noted 
for the medicinal qualities of its bark, which is collected in some 
localities and shipped in carloads to the eastern market. The wil¬ 
lows, spiraeas, huckleberries, and the dainty little pachistima are all 
more or less abundant in this dense forest area. 

The herbaceous plants of this region are perhaps the most interest- 
ing, because of the many odd forms. The strangest of these belong 



FLORA OF MOUNT RAINIER NATIONAL PARK. 3 

to a group of plants which live on decayed matter. They have lost 
all green coloring matter which is necessary for self-support and live 
on the products of other plants. The best known of these strange 
denizens of the forest is the Indian pipe or ghost plant Monotropa uni - 
flora (fig. 1). The former common name is applied to it because of its 


Fig. 1.—Indian pipe or ghost plant (Monotropa uniflora). 

Color of flower, white; height of plant, 5 to 12 inches; blooms July and August. 

Photograph by Asahel Curtis. 

fancied resemblance to the ordinary clay pipe, the latter because of its 
pearly whiteness. This plant has a wide range, extending all over the 
United States wherever the proper conditions are found. Nowhere 
is it more at home than in the woods of Washington and Oregon. 
There is another plant of the same genus which has several flowers 
on the same stem; this is popularly called the many-flowered Indian 




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FLORA OF MOUNT RAINIER NATIONAL PARK. 


pipe, while the plant having only one flower is called the one-flowered 
Indian pipe. The one-flowered species grows in dense clusters, 
while the other has not this tendency. 

The Allotropa , or barber’s pole (fig. 2), is a beautiful red and white 
striped plant confined to the forest of the Pacific coast. It is, per¬ 
haps, the oddest of this strange group, because of its bright colors. 

The pine sap, Pterospora andromedea (fig. 2), may be recognized 
by its reddish-brown stem, 3 or 4 feet high, without leaves, and by 
the numerous globular flowers arranged along the upper part of the 
stem. This plant, like the Indian pipe, has a wide range, extending 
across the continent. Locally it extends from about 1,000 feet above 
sea level to about 3,800 feet. The rarest of this leafless group is 
Hemitomes congestum (fig. 2). It is so rare that it has no common 
name. Like the one-flowered Indian pipe, it grows in dense clusters. 
The writer saw one bunch collected below the park entrance that 
filled an ordinary milk pan. Not only do these plants grow in dense 
masses but the flowers on each plant are also massed together, as the 
specific name indicates. In its prime it is a beautiful rose-pink or 
sometimes nearly white, but with age it turns black like nearly all 
of the Indian pipe family. It extends from near sea level to an 
altitude of about 3,200 feet. On the southeast slope of Mount 
Angeles, near an old deserted cabin, the writer found the five species 
shown on figure 2. The plants were collected and placed hurriedly 
on an old table and photographed with the side of the log cabin for 
a background. 

Closely related to this leafless group is the Pyrola or wintergreen 
family, which is well represented and seems to be a connecting link 
between the Indian pipe family and that of the heath or heather 
family. In the old textbooks all three families are included in the 
heath family. The name pyrola means a little pear, from the fact 
that the thick shining evergreen leaves resemble those of a pear tree. 
These species are easily recognized in the dense forest. Pyrola 
secunda is known at once by its one-sided raceme of small greenish 
flowers or seed-pods. The wintergreen of commerce is not obtained 
from any of the western species, but from the false wintergreen or 
checkerberry of the East. This plant is more abundant in the second 
zone. Pyrola aphylla , as the specific name indicates without leaves, 
has small bracts. Pyrola bracteata has rather large round or elliptical 
leaves in a rosette with flowers in a raceme. This plant resembles 
the eastern “shin-leaf.” Still another, Pyrola picta, might be added. 
This may be recognized by the white spots or streaks in its rather 
long leaves. Moneses unijlora is a beautiful little plant of this small 
family. It may be known from the pyrolas by its single waxy 
flower. Its generic name signifies “delight.” It is needless to add 


FLORA OF MOUNT RAINIER NATIONAL PARK 


5 



Fig. 2.—Barber’s pole ( Allotropa virgata) on left; ghost plant or Indian pipe ( Mono- 
tropa uniflora) to right of barber’s pole; many-flowered Indian pipe ( Hypopitys 
hypopitys ) on right; Hemitomes congestum, massive flower near right corner; pine 
drops or pine sap ( Pterospora andromedea), tall plant against logs in background. 







0 FLORA OF MOUNT RAINIER NATIONAL PARK. 

that it is worthy of its name, as it will surely delight the heart of its 

finder. . . 

To this family also belongs the prince’s pine or pipsissewa, which 
is common in these mossy woods. It is a more robust plant than 
the pyrolas, with narrower oblanceolate leaves and an umbel of waxy 



Fig. 3.—Canada dogwood (Cornus canadensis). 

Color of flower, greenish white; height of plant, 3 to 8 inches; diameter of head, ^ to 1 inch; blooms June 

to November. 

Photograph by A. H. Barnes. 

flowers. It is common through the United States and Canada. 
Menzies’s prince’s pine is a much smaller plant with variegated leaves 
and is restricted to the West. This, like most of its relatives, has 
somewhat waxy flowers. In localities where the soil is poor the 
salal, a plant which is nearly always present in the fir woods, is 
abundant. It has leaves somewhat the shape of the trailing arbutus 





FLORA OF MOUNT RAINIER NATIONAL PARK. 


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of the Eastern States, though the salal has a more erect habit of 
growth, with its zigzag stem and raceme of white um-shaped flowers 
and bluish-black berries. The red, black, and blue huckleberries are 
also common here, especially in openings through the forest. 

Present everywhere is the Canada dogwood, Cornus canadensis 
(fig. 3), with its creamy-white heads surrounded by four bracts which 
look like petals. Inside of these bracts are the real flowers, which 
are small. It is difficult to tell whether this plant is more beautiful 
in flower or in fruit. The fruit consist of a beautiful bunch of bright 
red berries which hang on for a long time. No plant receives more 



Fig. 4.—Alpine beauty (Clintonia unijiora). 

Color of flower, white; height of plant, 2 to 4 inches; blooms July and August. 
Photograph by J. B. Flett. 


attention and praise from the tourist than does this little dogwood. 
In some localities in the East it is popularly called “bunchberry.” 
On close examination its relationship to the large flowering dogwood 
can he plainly seen. The Canada dogwood is in bloom a second time 
late in the fall. Mixed with the little dogwood is the pure-white 
alpine beauty, Clintonia unijiora (fig. 4). This species, with its 
single flower of six petals, surpasses in beauty its eastern relatives. 
This liliaceous plant is little known to those traveling through the 
mountains. It belongs to the lily-of-the-valley family, as do the 
false solomon seals which often bloom with it in July and August. 




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FLORA OF MOUNT RAINIER NATIONAL PARK. 


The Clintonia has three radical elliptical parallel-veined leaves and a 
single terminal flower. Its fruit consists of a blue berry. There are 
three species of the false solomon seal in this region—two species of 
twisted stalk and the ovate trilhum—all of which belong to the 
lily-of-the-valley family. 

The Oregon wood sorrel, Oxalis oregona, is extremely abundant 
and grows with those just mentioned. It has white or pinkish-white 
flowers and leaves of three obcordate leaflets resembling clover. The 
juice of this plant is extremely sour. Visitors frequently refer to it 
as that “cloverlike plant in the woods.” A bishop's cap, Tiarella 
trifoliata, has a delicate raceme of small white flowers and pubescent 



Fig. 5.—Forest anemone (Anemone deltoidea). 

Color of flower, white; height of plant, 6 to 14 inches; blooms June to August. 

Photograph by A. H. Barnes. 

trifoliate leaves. This plant extends from sea level to about 2,900 
feet, when its leaves appear gradually to change from their trifoliate 
character to unifoliate. All intermediate forms can be found. When 
the transition is complete it is rechristened Tiarella unifoliata. It 
extends in this form to the terminal moraines of the glaciers or above. 

The forest anemone, Anemone deltoidea (fig. 5), forms beautiful 
spots here and there because of its creeping roots, which tend to 
intertwine and bring the slender stems together. The leaves are 
rhomboid serrate with trifoliate leaflets. The delicate white flowers 
last a long time here in the dense shade. The fruit is not conspic¬ 
uous, like that of its relative, the western anemone (figs. 6, 7, and 8), 
in the grassy meadows. 




FLORA OF MOUNT RAINIER NATIONAL PARK. 


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Fig. 6.—Seed pods of anemone. 

Color of flower, lavender; height of plant, 8 to 20 inches; blooms July and August. 
Photograph by Asahel Curtis. 



Fig. 7.—Western anemone (Anemone occidentalis.) 
Photograph by Asahel Curtis. 


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FLORA OF MOUNT RAINIER NATIONAL PARK 



Fig. 8.—Western anemone (Anemone occidental^). 

Color of flower, lavender; height of plant, 8 to 20 inches; blooms July and August. 
Photograph by Asahel Curtis. 




FLORA OF MOUNT RAINIER NATIONAL PARK. 


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The orchid family also has several members. Perhaps none are 
more common among the moss than the twayblades. These plants 
can be recognized by their odd-shaped small green flowers and their 
slender stalks bearing two opposite cordate parallel-veined leaves. 
The coral root has a brownish leafless stalk rising from a coral-like 
mass for a root. These plants grow in clusters. One species, CoraL- 
lorhiza striata, has striped petals and no spur, and the other, Corallo- 
rhiza multijlora, has spots on the petals and conspicuous spurs. The 
most popular plant of this family is the lady slipper, Cytherea bullosa 
or Calypso borealis. This plant blooms a little too early to be in its 
prime at the rush of tourist travel to the park. It is, however, often 
found and admired in the early part of July or later. This is con¬ 
sidered rare in the Eastern States, but grows abundantly here in the 
mossy woods. Bikukulla formosa, a western form of the dutchman’s 
breeches, is not at all rare. Its near relative, the wild bleeding heart, 
Capnoides scouleri , is very abundant and vies with the bracken in 
size. It is well known to the children of the neighborhood, who 
amuse themselves by touching the mature seed pods, which “pop” 
and scatter the seeds in all directions. It has pink flowers and large 
triangular leaves. 

Neatly interwoven through the green mossy carpet is the long 
trailing Lycopodium clavatum. This often has a length of 20 feet 
with many side branches. It has received a number of popular 
names such as Christmas wreath, ground pine, and staghorn moss. 
It is often collected in the foothills of the mountains before Christmas 
and shipped to the cities for decorative purposes. Sometimes it is 
stained or dyed after the manner of the so-called “air plants” of the 
Japanese and woven around pillars or strung from one place to 
another. The artificial color will last longer than the natural. 
There is also a shorter and more erect species often growing with 
the above called L. lucidulum. The slope of the Tatoosh Range 
near the trail leading down into Stevens Canyon is thickly inter¬ 
woven with the former species. There is a marked difference between 
that grown in the dense woods and that on an exposed slope. 

No plants contribute more to the beauty of the shady part of 
the park than the ferns. Everyone in this vicinity is familiar with 
the sword fern, which reaches its highest development in the rich 
soil of these shady retreats. The deer fern, Struthiopteris spicant, 
which is more slender than the sword fern, is also abundant. It 
has two kinds of fronds; one grows erect from the center and bears 
the spores for reproductive purposes, while the other, which spreads 
out in radiate form, is much broader and greener and is well adapted 
to perform the vegetative functions. The latter fronds are ever¬ 
green, while the contracted spore-bearing fronds die down at the 


12 FLORA OF MOUNT RAINIER NATIONAL PARK. 

close of the season. The licorice fern, Polypodium occidental, 
grows embedded in moss-covered trees and sometimes on old logs, 
while the maidenhair fern selects waterfalls and moist cliffs. 

The common brake grows abundantly all through the lower zone 
and sometimes forms thickets with other vegetation. The western 
form of the lady fern sends up its tall broad fronds in tufts here 
and there, generally where there is an abundance of moisture. Some¬ 
what resembling the lady fern is Dryopteris spinulosa dilatata, 
which generally grows in similar localities. The lady fern is smoother 
than Dryopteris spinulosa dilatata and has kidney-shaped fruit dots 
on the back of the frond, while the fruit dots on the latter are 
round. The dainty oak fern, Phegopteris dryopteris , is everywhere 
present among the moss. It has a dark-colored stem and triangular 
frond. It is much smaller than the two last mentioned and extends 
into the higher portions of the park. 

THE SECOND ZONE. 

There can be no sharp line of demarcation separating the first 
and second zones, yet no one can fail to note the difference in the 
flora in a few hundred feet of ascent. There is, for instance, a 
difference between the park entrance and Longmire Springs. The 
trees as a rule have become smaller except along the border of the 
low swampy ground adjoining the Longmire property and its con¬ 
tinuation up along the Henry Hunting Ground trail. Not only 
have the trees become smaller, but different species have come in. 
The white pine, Pinus monticola, occasionally seen below, now be¬ 
comes common. It can be recognized by its fine silky foliage, 
its large cones and five needles or leaves in the bunch. On the 
pines the leaves are never separate as on the firs, hut are apparently 
tied together at the base and inserted into the branch. The hark 
of the white pine resembles a checkerboard. The black pine has 
two short leaves together. At Longmire Springs the white and 
black pines grow side by side. The black pine has dark foliage 
and numerous small prickly cones about an inch or two in length 
while the white pine has cones 8 or 10 inches long without spines. 

The common and the Alaska cedars also have a common meeting 
ground here. The Alaska cedar has globular fruit which distin¬ 
guishes it from the white cedar. After a little practice the two 
species of cedar can be distinguished by their hark and foliage. 
The wood of the Alaska cedar is yellow with a characteristic odor 
and becomes hard when dry, in marked contrast to the soft wood 
of the lowland cedar. In this vicinity the Alaska cedar seldom 
reaches 3 feet in diameter, though occasionally old fallen logs of far 
greater diameter are found in low places in the forest. The lumber 


FLORA OF MOUNT RAINIER NATIONAL PARK. 13 

of these large trees is considered very valuable on account of its 
hardness and fine grain. 

On account of the character of the soil the trees mentioned 
above do not attain their highest development. This is especially 
true of the hemlocks. The hemlocks can be distinguished by their 
foliage. The lowland hemlock has numerous small cones and 
foliage that is white on the lower side. The alpine hemlock has 
cones 1 \ to 2 inches in length and there is little or no difference in 
the color of the upper and lower sides of its foliage. 

The Douglas fir from this point begins to give way to other types. 
This is also true of the white cedar. The lowland hemlock, on the other 
hand, forms nearly pure forest at 3,200 feet and higher. The noble fir 
seems to reach its highest development just below the glaciers at an 
altitude of about 3,900 feet. • Just below the Nisquafly Glacier theforest 
is composed more largely of This tree than any other locality with 
which the writer is familiar. In the distance these trees can be 
recognized by their peculiar blue-green color which is very different 
from the color of any other coniferous tree. They have large cones 
covered by long exserted green bracts. The noble fir is usually 
accompanied by the lovely fir. In the upper part of this zone the 
alpine fir is common, so that the forest has a decidedly changed 
appearance. Here the valley has become very narrow and the 
trees grow mostly on steep mountain slopes. Occasionally the wake 
of the avalanche can he distinctly seen where the trees have been 
swept away. Where this is of common occurrence there is little 
or no vegetation, only the hare rocks or gravel, hut where this 
happens at long intervals new trees start up and grow until they in 
turn may be destroyed. 

In wet places a spruce occurs in the tree groups of the meadows. 
On the south side of the mountain the spruce is seldom seen, though 
it is common on the north and east sides. 

Several species of TJsnea, a lichen, become attached to the trees and 
give them a light gray color. These hang down from the trees in long 
thread-like tufts which give the trees a drooping or weeping appear¬ 
ance. These pendant lichens are popularly called Spanish moss, 
confusing it, perhaps, with Tillandsia, a thread-like vine which grows 
so profusely on the trees in Florida. In neither case is the name 
appropriate. How different is the aspect of the forest here, clothed 
in its garb of light gray drooping thread-like lichens, from the majestic 
trees of the lower forest in their apparently tropical attire. 

Many of the shrubs of the lower valley continue on up into the 
second zone. The white rhododendron, R. albijlorum (figs. 9 and 10), 
a beautiful shrub of the huckleberry family, enriches this area with its 
creamy-white flowers and glossy variegated leaves. It is said, how- 


14 


FLORA OF MOUNT RAINIER NATIONAL PARK. 



Fig. 9.— White rhododendron ( Rhododendron albiflorum). 

Color of flower, white or greenish white; height of plant, 4 to 6 leet; blooms July and August. 

Photograph by A. H. Barnes. 




FLORA OF MOUNT RAINIER NATIONAL PARK. 


15 


ever, to be poisonous to sheep and other animals. The mountain ash, 
Sorbus occidentalism has large flat clusters of rather small white 
flowers and compound leaves. This is also much admired in the late 



Fig. 10.—White rhododendron (Rhododendron albiflorum). 

Color of flower, white or greenish white; height of plant, 1 to 6 feet; blooms July and August. 
Photograph by Asahel Curtis. 


fall and early winter because of its bright red berries which hang 
on the shrub for a long time unless devoured by the birds. The camp 
robbers and Clark’s crow see that these berries do not stay on too long. 



16 


FLORA OF MOUNT RAINIER NATIONAL PARK. 


The ovate-leaved salal, Gaultheria ovatifolia, occurs here among the 
moss. It is much smaller than its lowland relative and lies closer 
to the ground with its zigzag stem, ovate leaves, and small white 
urn-shaped flowers. These plants will leave a photograph of them¬ 
selves on white paper when pressed, thus showing the presence of oil. 
In case of a forest fire both species of these plants take fire readily 
because of their oily nature and do much to increase the rapidity of 



Fig. 11.— Twin-flower ( Linnaea americana.) 

Color of flower, pink; plant trailing on the ground, etc.; blooms July and August. 
Photograph by A. H. Denman. 


the fire over the forest cover. They burn with an explosive crackling 
sound. 

The twin-flower, Linnaea americana (fig. 11), is one of the most 
dainty and graceful of our trailing vines. Trailing vines are rather 
rare in this region as are plants with much fragrance. This plant 
can be detected by its odor long before it is seen. It has two graceful, 
pink bell-shaped flowers near the end of each branch. These vines 
grow in radiating lines and its connection with the honeysuckle 
family can be seen both by its creeping stems and its fragrance. This 
plant is named in honor of Linnaeus, the great Swedish botanist. 
It has a wide range extending across the continent. Locally, it 
extends from sea level to about 4,000 feet, reaching its highest devel¬ 
opment about 2,800 feet. 







FLORA OF MOUNT RAINIER NATIONAL PARK. 


17 



The squaw-grass, Xerophyllum tenax (fig. 12), is perhaps the plant 
that attracts the greatest attention. It receives its common name 
from the fact that the Indians use it in making their baskets. It has 
other popular names, such as mountain lily, elk-grass, bear-grass, etc. 


It may be recognized by its dense mat of coarse grass-like leaves 
and flower stalk about 3 feet high with raceme of beautiful creamy 
white flowers. In the early stages of development the flowers are 
crowded into a conical cluster at the top which gradually lengthens 


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FLORA OF MOUNT RAINIER NATIONAL PARK. 


out until the stalk is nearly uniform with flowers on all sides. This, 
like the twin-flower, is very fragrant. In places where the trees are 
small this plant grows abundantly, generally in volcanic ash soil. 

With it may be found the pyrolas, pipsissewas, and mertens’ 
coral root, Corallorhiza mertensiana. The latter may be recognized 



Fig. 13.—Common lousewort (Pedicularis racemoso ). 

Color of flower, pinkish white; height of plant, 5 to 8 inches; blooms July and August. 
Photograph by A. H. Barnes. 


by its leafless stalk, coral-like roots, and strange pink flowers in 
racemes. This saprophyte grows in clusters like the other coral roots 
and is a characteristic plant of this region. Several of the leafless 
plants mentioned in the first zone extend well up through the second. 




FLORA OF MOUNT RAINIER NATIONAL PARK. 


19 


The common lousewort, Pedicularis racemosa (fig. 13), may be known 
by its tendency to lean over, its lanceolate leaves, and pinkish-white 
flowers. It usually grows in radiate clusters. 

Sweet-after-death, Achlys triphylla , is common through these woods, 
extending up from sea level. It may be known by its spike of small 
white feathery flowers and the leaf in three cuneate sections. This 
has several other common names, as sweet-clover, vanilla leaf, smelling 
leaves, etc. In the cities it is collected in bunches and sold on the 
streets under the name 11 smelling leaves,” as the leaves become more 
fragrant as they dry. 

Trautvetteria grandis has no common name. It has delicate white 
feathery blossoms in corymbs and maple-like leaves. It belongs to 



Fig. 14 .—Pedicularis contorta. 

Color of flower, light yellow; height of plant, 6 to 9 inches; blooms July and August. 

Photograph by A. H. Barnes. 

the buttercup family and like most plants of that group it is quite 
ornamental. Many questions are asked about it. 

The bird’s-foot bramble, Rubus pedatus, is recognized by its long 
trailing vine, compound leaves, and strawberry-like flowers. It 
covers the ground in many places, and the pack animals eagerly feed 
on it, when they have an opportunity. The snowy bramble, Rubus 
nivalis , may be recognized by its hard glossy simple leaves, red ber¬ 
ries, and red flowers. It is never found in such abundance as the 
above. Somewhat similar to the bird’s-foot bramble is Rubus lasio- 
coccus, but this has simple leaves and extends to a greater altitude 




20 FLORA OF MOUNT RAINIER NATIONAL PARK. 

Along the rivers where there is an abundance of light may be 
found a strange assembly of plants. Many are washed down from 
above and have rooted in the scanty soil. Those not adapted will 
sooner or later die, while those like the alder and willow form thick¬ 
ets and grow luxuriantly, thus giving protection to other plants. 
In this way the river channel is often changed. Luina hypoleuca, 
a beautiful composite plant with glossy oval leaves, white under¬ 
neath, is found on the old river channels at Longmire Springs and 
much lower down. This grows on the perpendicular cliffs near the 
glaciers. The plants themselves may be washed down and take 
root when stranded, or seeds may be carried by the river and lodge 
on the gravel bars and germinate, producing the species at a lower 
altitude. Perhaps both methods are successful in the production 
of these river bottom strangers, many of which compete success¬ 
fully with those plants common to that region. Maples, cotton¬ 
woods, alders, and willows are the arborescent plants usually found 
here. These river-bar waifs are usually those which grow along 
streams higher up or on perpendicular cliffs above the streams. 

There are several extensive areas swept by fire just below the 
meadows. The “pearly everlasting” seems to have taken posses¬ 
sion of some of these, while the fireweed and a combination of other 
plants have a firm hold on other areas. These burnt areas are 
strewn with fallen logs and old erect snags, which are tottering and 
ready to fall. After every windstorm there is a new addition to the 
prostrate forms. This is especially noticeable along the roads, 
trails, and telephone lines. Some of these areas were burned 20 
years ago. Still there is little progress toward reforestation. The 
areas near the forest receive the seed and new trees start up, while 
those more remote have made little headway and still present deso¬ 
late scenes with their blighted crop of “ghost trees” and scattered 
logs. The huckleberries, mountain ash, and the white rhododen¬ 
dron usually grow in great profusion and ripen their fruit in excellent 
condition. 

THE THIRD ZONE. 

The lower part of the third zone or the first meadows reached are 
usually moist and covered with tall grasses and sedges. The sedges 
are more abundant and can he recognized by their triangular stems 
and coarse appearance. In the early part of the season these grassy 
places are covered with a minute form of a swamp violet. This 
grows so near the ground that it is often overlooked. 

The shooting star, Dodecatheon jeffreyi (fig. 15), is one of the most 
conspicuous. It has a rosette of oblanceolate leaves and peculiar 
shaped flowers, resembling those of the cyclamen, which is a near 
relative. 


FLORA OF MOUNT RAINIER NATIONAL PARK. 


21 


The purple aster, Eucephalus ledophyllus (fig. 16), is frequently 
found here. It has tall leafy stems, leaves pubescent on the under- 
side. The ray flowers are pinkish purple. It grows so abundantly 
that in favored localities the ground is covered with the plants 



Fig. 15. — Shooting star (Dodecatheon jeffreyi). 

Color of flower, pink; height of plant, 6 to 10 inches; blooms July and August. 

Photograph by Asahel Curtis. 

with head touching head, swaying in unison to the least breath of 
wind. 

Here, also, grows the elephant’s trunk, Pedicularis groenlandica 
surrecta. It has pinnately parted leaves, coiled beak, and dull pur¬ 
ple flowers. The peculiar resemblance of its beak to the trunk of 
an elephant gives it its popular name. The chief interest in this 
plant lies in its oddness and not in the brilliancy of its color, like 
those just mentioned. The cotton grass, Eriophorum polystachyon, 




22 


FLORA OF MOUNT RAINIER NATIONAL PARK. 


grows abundantly here, with its long slender stalk, bearing a white 
cotton-like tuft on the summit. Sometimes this plant seems to 
take complete control of small areas, but more often grows mixed 
with other plants. The rosy spiraea, Spiraea densijiora , is a well- 
known little shrub bearing dense clusters of small red flowers on 
numerous short slender stems. In similar situations in the Olympic 



Fig. 16. — Purple aster ( Eucephalus ledophyllus). 

Color of flower, pinkish purple; height of plant, 1 to 2 feet; blooms July to September. 
Photograph by Asahel Curtis. 

Mountains the Douglas spiraea of the lowlands grows with the 
above, but this combination has not been seen here. Salix com- 
mutata, the common alpine willow, grows abundantly in these low 
meadows and bogs, and is in bloom about the 1st of July. There 
are few plants in bloom on the mountain before that time, unless 
the season should be unusually early. Leptarrhena, Saxifraga, 
Mitella, and Erythronium are some of the other genera composing 




FLORA OF MOUNT RAINIER NATIONAL PARK. 


23 


the spring crop. Later the grass of Parnassus, Parnassia fimbriata, 
a beautiful plant with reniform leaves and white fringed petals 
adorn these moist areas, coming up here and there among the asters, 
erigerons, and arnicas about the latter part of August in time to 
salute the last visitors of the season. 

Above these moist meadows are more extensive grassy areas with 
better soil and well drained. Here are found the real natural flower 
gardens of the mountain, surpassing perhaps in beauty of color, 
number of species, and luxuriance of growth any other alpine region 
of the world. 

On passing through a dense cluster of alpine trees and emerging 
for the first time into one of these “gardens” one of the most noted 
of the botanical visitors to the park last summer stopped and re¬ 
peated the word “wonderful! wonderful! wonderful!” This was 
the verdict of a man whose long and successful life has been devoted 
to botanical research not only in his own fatherland but in nearly 
every country of the world. He stood until his companions were 
nearly out of sight, hastening on to reach the hotel in time for 
lunch, but he breathed in the fragrance of the flowers and scanned 
the delightful vista before him unmindful of mere bodily wants. 

A satisfactory description of a natural flower bed has not come to 
the writer’s observation nor does he expect to write one now. If 
by means of this article more people shall be brought in touch with 
the mountain and its wonderful flora he will be satisfied. These 
flower beds must he seen and their fragrance inhaled before a full 
comprehension of them can be realized. The more one sees them, the 
more does he realize their infinite beauty and the full significance of 
the spiritual lessons which these floral emblems teach. 

By numerous photographs and brief descriptions some idea of 
these natural flower beds may be obtained. In the early spring the 
white mountain deertongue, Erythronium montanum (fig. 17), is 
by far the most abundant and conspicuous, thrusting its leaves and 
flowers up through the snow. Avalanche lily, adder’s-tongue and 
dog’s-tooth violet are other popular names for this plant. It has 
two lanceolate leaves with sinuous edges without dark blotches and 
several flowers in the form of a raceme. 

Suksdorf’s buttercup, Ranunculus suksdorjii (fig. 18), is an almost 
constant companion of the deertongue. Though not as successful 
in making its way through the snow, it is in bloom near the snowbank 
soon after the snow has melted from it. This is the only buttercup 
occurring with the mountain deertongue so there can be no confusion, 
though it is often confused with Potentilla flabellifolia (fig. 19), which 
belongs to the rose family. The latter can be identified by its small 
bracts between the sepals while the sepals of the buttercup are rolled 


24 


FLORA OF MOUNT RAINIER NATIONAL PARK. 


■back and fall off early. The potentilla is also larger than the but¬ 
tercup and does not bloom so near the snow. 

The western anemone or Pulsatilla occidentalis (figs. 20 and 21) is 
also ready to put forth its blossoms with the buttercup. This is 
the only anemone found near the snow. It has large lavender 
flowers with leaves still in the bud until the floral organs drop off. 
Then the finely dissected leaves unfold and the plumelike heads de- 



Fig. 17.—Deer tongue (Erythronium montanum). 

Color of flower, white; height of plant, 7 to 15 inches; blooms July and August. 

Photograph by Asahel Curtis. 

velop, showing the feathery appendages of the seeds. It is greatly 
admired both in flower and fruit. 

After these hardy pioneers have held undisputed sway for a week 
or two the other plants spring forth in rapid succession transformin 
the bare ground and the site of the dust-covered snow bank into 
veritable flower bed. The season is short. Everything moves 
rapidly. As the weeks come and go so does the succession of plants 


CTQ 







FLORA OF MOUNT RAINIER NATIONAL PARK. 25 

come and go, changing as by magic; in flower one week and in seed 
the next. r lhe most conspicuous of the later plants is the valerian, 
Valeriana sitchensis (fig. 22). This is also wrongly called the moun¬ 
tain heliotrope on account of its small pinkish white flowers in cymes, 
resembling the common garden heliotrope though having no rela¬ 
tionship. It is a tall plant with a strong characteristic odor; the 
leaves are pinnate, the upper leaflet being by far the largest. It is 
usually one of the tallest plants in these flower beds in the neighbor¬ 
hood of 5,500 feet and grows abundantly, beginning to bloom in 


Fig. 18.—Suksdorf’s buttercup (Ranunculus suksdorfii). 

Color of flower, yellow; height of plant, 5 to 12 inches; blooms July and August. 

Photograph by A. H. Barnes. 

the early part of July. It continues to bloom until the middle of 
August or the first of September. 

Mertensia laevigata (fig. 23) is another plant between 2 and 3 feet 
high with raceme of blue-purple flowers and thin ovate leaves. The 
Arctic lupine, Lupinus subalpinus (fig. 24), grows with the above, 
though it is not so tall, but is really more conspicuous because of 
its many radiate flower stalks with long racemes of pealike purple 
flowers and palmately compound leaves. Polemonium pulchellum 
(fig. 25) is another handsome plant with pinnate leaves and blue 
flowers in cymulose clusters. Cusick’s speedwell, Veronica cusickii , 




26 


FLORA OF MOUNT RAINIER NATIONAL PARK. 


is a small plant about 3 to 6 inches high with opposite ovate leaves 
and raceme of blue-violet flowers. It is a very abundant plant at 
an altitude of about 5,000 to 6,000 feet on all sides of the moun¬ 
tain. What it lacks in size it makes up in abundance and does 



Fig. 19 .—Potentilla flabellifolia. 

Color of flower, yellow; height of plant, 8 to 16 inches; blooms July and August. 

Photograph by A. H. Barnes. 

much underneath the mertensias, lupines, and polemoniums to 
render prominent the blue color in the flower beds. The Indian 
paint brush, Castilleia oreopola, attracts more attention, perhaps, 
than any other plant of its size on the mountain, because of its bright 




FLORA OF MOUNT RAINIER NATIONAL PARK. 


27 



Fig. 20.—Western anemone in fruit (Pulsatilla occidentalis). 

Color of flower, lavender; height of plant, 10 to 18 inches; blooms July and August. 
Photograph by A. H. Barnes. 



28 


FLOEA OF MOUNT EAINIEE NATIONAL PAEK. 


red or purplish, red color and radiate clusters. These red clusters 
appear in well-balanced groups throughout these extensive flower 
beds, harmonizing with the blue, the white, and the yellow of other 
plants. Painted cup is another popular name for it. These com¬ 
mon names are applied to any species of Castilleia in this vicinity. 
The red heather forms dense patches with its long shrubby stems 
usually leaning over to one side with its red bell-shape flowers. 

Along the numerous streams may be found Lewis’s monkey flower 
(fig. 26) with its rose-red two-lipped corolla. Here, too, may be seen 



Fig. 21.—Western anemone in flower (Pulsatilla occidentalis). 
Color of flower, lavender; height of plant, 10 to 18 inches; blooms July and August. 
Photograph by A. H. Barnes. 


the rosy spiraea which continues up from the lower moist meadows. 
The spiraea and the monkey flower are always associated with 
moisture, while the Indian paint brush and red heather are not. 
These rills can often be traced in the distance by the bright rose-red 
flowers of Lems’s monkey flower and by the bright yellow of the 
alpine monkey flower, which loves the same habitat. Both species 
grow in dense masses and often cover the ground to the exclusion of 
other plants. The yellow fire weed, Epilobium luteum, flourishes best 
along the streams in the lower meadows. It may be known by its 



FLORA OF MOUNT RAINIER NATIONAL PARK 


29 



Fig. 22.—Valerian ( Valeriana sitchensis). 

Color of plant, pinkish white to white; height of plant, 4 to 4 feet; blooms July and August. 

Photograph by Asahel Curtis. 



30 


FLORA OF MOUNT RAINIER NATIONAL PARK. 


creamy yellow flowers and ovate to lanceolate opposite leaves on a 
rather tall stem. 

The mountain dock, Polygonum bislortoides (fig. 27), may be known 
by its lanceolate radical leaves and rather long, slender stem, bearing 
an oblong spike of small white flowers. This plant is very abundant 



Fig. 23 .—Mertensia laevigata. 

Color of flower, blue to pinkish blue; height of plant, 2 feet; blooms July and August. 
Photograph by A. H. Barnes. 

and is easily swayed about by the wind, thus trying the patience of 
the flower photographer. It is nearly always associated with the 
valerian and the asters. There are several plants of the parsley 
family which may be recognized by their umbels of white or purplish- 
white flowers. The ‘ ‘wild parsnip,” Ligusticum purpureum, has finely 
dissected leaves and small whitish purple flowers. The mountain ash, 



FLORA OF MOUNT RAINIER NATIONAL PARK 


31 



Fig. 24.—Arctic lupine (Lupinus subalpinus). 

Color of flower, bluish purple; height of plant, 10 to 18 inches; blooms July and August. 

Photograph by A. H. Barnes. 






32 FLORA OF MOUNT RAINIER NATIONAL PARK. 

with its shrubby stem and large, flat flower clusters, often lends 
variety to the grassy slopes studded with numerous herbaceous 
plants. The mountain currant, Ribes acerifolium, also adds variety, 
especially near streams or in the shade of groups of trees, though its 



Fig. 25 .—Polemonium pulchellum. 

Color of flower, pale blue; height of plant, 8 to 12 inches; blooms July and August. 
Photograph by A. H. Barnes. 


small green flowers are not conspicuous. The wild hellebore, Vera- 
trum viride (see cover), forms dense clumps anywhere throughout 
these variegated slopes. Its tall herbaceous stem, rising 4 or 5 feet 
high, bears drooping panicles of greenish-white flowers and very 





FLORA OF MOUNT RAINIER NATIONAL PARK. 


33 


broad strongly veined and creased leaves. It is always a plant of 
marked interest to the tourist, not only on account of its color but on 



Fig. 26.—Monkey flower (Mimulus alpinus ). 

Color of flower, yellow; height of plant, 1 to \\ inches; blooms July and August. 

Photograph by A. H. Barnes. 

account of its size and peculiar robust mode of growth among plants 
so slender and highly colored. 

A large number of plants contribute the yellow color to these flower 
beds. The mountain dandelion, Agoseris alpestris, is a plant closely 





34 


FLORA OF MOUNT RAINIER NATIONAL PARK. 



Fig. 27.—Mountain dock (Polygonum bistortoides). 

Color of flower, white; height of plant, 1 to 2 feet; blooms July and August. 
Photograph by A. H. Barnes. 





FLORA OF MOUNT RAINIER NATIONAL PARK. 


35 


resembling the common dandelion. The potentilla, Potentilla flabel- 
lifolia, is a common buttercup-like plant already referred to. There 
are two or three species of arnicas, which may be known by their 
opposite cordate or ovate leaves and rather large heads of yellow 
flowers. One species, Arnica parryi, has its heads entirely rayless and 
usually solitary. It therefore takes little part in the color scheme. 
Senecio triangularis may be known by its rather tall stem, small 
heads, and triangular dentate leaves. It requires plenty of moisture 
and is found near streams and springs. It ranges from Longmire 
Springs to the “Camp of the Clouds.’' 

The pentstemons, epilobiums, asters, erigerons, claytonias, etc., 
contribute pink and purple in ever varying shades, making the har¬ 
mony complete. 

The tree groups among these flower beds are composed largely of 
the alpine fir, alpine hemlock, Alaska cedar, and the white-barked 
pine, Pinus albicaulis. This pine is rare on the south side, but is 
common on the north and east sides of the mountain. The same is 
true of an alpine form of the tideland spruce. These trees are pecu¬ 
liar in that their trunks rise up like spires while their short branches 
are bent downward by the weight of the snow. In the fierce struggle 
for existence their wood has been strengthened to a remarkable 
degree as compared with wood of trees at sea lev'el. Many of the 
shorter trees remain buried for months in snowdrifts 15 to 20 feet in 
depth. It is not strange that such trees should have a gnarled and 
distorted appearance even at an altitude of 5,500 feet. Between 
this altitude and 6,500 feet there is a marked change to smaller 
plants, steeper slopes and poorer soil, but no diminution in color. 
In fact, the color scheme is intensified, and many of the most beautiful 
flower beds are found about 6,000 feet or a little above. 

Phlox diffusa (fig. 28) is here arrayed in large masses of lavender 
flowers changing to white as they become older. The painted cups here 
vary from red to crimson and sometimes even to purple. There are 
three or four different species of them in these flower beds. Castilleia 
miniata is known by its entire lanceolate leaves. The other species 
are similar to each other and are known only to botanists. Cusick’s 
speedwell which, in the second zone was said to be partially hidden 
under the larger plants, is seen to better advantage here and often 
forms beautiful blue patches to the exclusion of other plants. 

The blue gentian, Gentiana calycosa (fig. 29), with its large funnel- 
form flowers and opposite sessile ovate leaves, grows here in moist 
places. It is one of the most admired of the blue flowers found on the 
mountain. It is not strange that it attracted the trained eye of Dr. 
Tolmie, the first botanist to visit the mountain. It was named from 
specimens collected by him near the Puyallup Glacier in 1837. It is 


36 


FLORA OF MOUNT RAINIER NATIONAL PARK. 


abundant at the end of the trail leading into Van Trump Park and 
along the lower meadows on the glacier trail leading into Paradise 
Valley. It may be found from the lower meadows to timber line. 



Fig. 28.—Mountain phlox (Phlox diffusa). 

Color of flower, lavender to white; height of plant, 1 to 4 inches; blooms July and August. 
Photograph by A. H. Barnes. 

It blooms rather late, and may be found in October with its large, 
beautiful blue flowers up through a foot of snow, being held upright 
by small branches of the rosy spiraea or other shrubs common to 



FLORA OF MOUNT RAINIER NATIONAL PARK. 


37 


wet places. Several species of the aster family are also seen in this 
sorry plight. Many of the weaker plants, such as the speedwell, are 
buried several times under the snow before it becomes continuous for 
the winter. After the temporary snows melt off, these plants soon 
straighten up and continue on as though they never had been 
buried. 



Fig. 29.—Blue gentian (Gentiana calycosa ). 

Color of flower, blue; height of plant, 10 to 18 inches; blooms August and September. 

Photograph by A. H. Barnes. 

The framework of these plants which grow late is so v^ell preserved 
in the following spring after the winter snows thaw that the old 
plant is sometimes mistaken for the new. Here we find the principle 
of cold storage applied in a natural way. In this area there is a 
gradual transition to plants of a higher altitude. Many of the con¬ 
spicuous plants from the area below are also found here though in a 
more depauperated condition, hence there is a general blending 






38 


FLORA OF MOUNT RAINIER NATIONAL PARK. 


together of the high and low altitude trees. This transition area is, 
perhaps, the most interesting, because of the great variety of plants 
and the infinite combinations found under different conditions of soil, 
moisture, and light. 

The white and yellow deer-tongues, the arctic lupines, the valerians, 
and the polemoniums are abundant in the lower part of this region 
though not in the upper near 6,500 feet. Lupinus volcanicus is a 
characteristic timber-line plant all around the mountain. It differs 



Fig. 30.—White heather (Cassiope mertensiana ). 

Color of flower, white; height of plant, 6 to 10 inches; blooms July and August. 

Photograph by A. H. Barnes. 

from the plant in the lower meadows by its greater pubescence, 
coarser and shorter stems. 

The white heather, Cassiope mertensiana (fig. 30), is one of the 
most attractive plants in the heather group. It is known by its 
bell-shaped, drooping flowers and rather short stems with small 
imbricated leaves. The red heather, Phyllodoce empetriformis (figs. 
31 and 32), which is much more robust, often grows with it. It 
extends from 3,200 feet timber line. The yellow heather, Phyllodoce 




FLORA OF MOUNT RAINIER NATIONAL PARK. 


39 



glanduliflora (fig. 33), is common, though less conspicuous than its 
relative with its greenish yellow flowers. Its range is limited to the 
vicinity of timber line. 

Common in the same locality are two short, dainty pentstemons, 
Pentstemon 'procerus and Pentstemon confertus. The former has 
beautiful blue flowers, while the latter has a delicate creamy yellow 
color. At this altitude they are about 3 inches in height, while in 
the lower zone they are much larger. Several dainty species of the 


Fig. 31.—Red heather (Phyllodoce empetriformis). 

Color of flower, red; height of plant, 10 to 18 inches; blooms July and August. 

Photograph by A. H. Bames. 

genus Pedicularis are scattered here and there among the heather. 
Gilia nuttdllii is often called phlox on account of its large white 
phloxlike flowers, and palmately 3 to 7 parted leaves. This is rare 
in Paradise Valley though common on the west side of the mountain. 
It blooms during the early part of July. It is quite ornamental like 
its relative the phlox, which often is associated with it. The rills 
are adorned with the alpine minulus as below. The epilobiums are 
abundant, covering the ground with their small pink flowers. 








40 


FLORA OF MOUNT RAINIER NATIONAL PARK. 


Two cud weeds, Antennaria media and Antennaria lanata, are 
easily known by their white wooly appearance and rather short stems. 
The latter is larger with denser heads and narrower leases than the 



former. These plants are related to the Swiss edelweiss. They do 
not have the star like heads of the Swiss plant. The dog violet, 
Viola retroscabra , and the early violet, FioZa sempervirens , are found 



FLORA OF MOUNT RAINIER NATIONAL PARK. 


41 


in this zone all around the mountain. They are never seen in great 
abundance anywhere. The dog violet has bluish-violet flowers and 
ovate leaves while the other is yellow with round cordate leaves. The 
former is more abundant than the latter. The pink family has 
several representatives such as Suksdorf’s silene (fig. 34), two or 
three arenarias, or sandworts. These plants, like the violets, give 
variety by their somewhat equal distribution over the grassy slopes. 



Fig. 33.—Yellow heather (Phyllodoce glanduliflora ). 

Color of flower, yellowish white; height of plant, 6 to 10 inches; blooms July and August. 

Photograph by A. H. Barnes. 

The saxifrage family in this zone takes to the rocks to avoid com¬ 
petition. Many of these grow in large mats, and cover the bare rocks 
and soil with a beautiful carpet of small white flowers. Saxifraga tol- 
miei (fig. 35) is the most noted and the most common on the rocky 
areas below timber line. Many tourists stop and pay homage to this 
little plant, not only on account of its beauty but also because of its 
apparently inhospitable environment. Saxifraga caespitosa grows 
more on moist crags and in still denser and more globular masses than 
the former. It is also a larger and coarser plant. Saxifraga bron- 
chialis (fig. 36) has a larger flower stalk and grows in drier places, 




42 


FLORA OF MOUNT RAINIER NATIONAL PARK. 



Fig. 34.—Suksdorf’s silene (Silene suTcsdorfii ). 

Color of flower, pinkish white; height of plant, 3 to 6 inches; blooms July and August. 

Photograph by A. H. Barnes. 




FLORA OF MOUNT RAINIER NATIONAL PARK. 


43 


often embedded on moss-covered rocks. Along the streams there 
are several other species, which grow here and there with reniform 
leaves and small white flowers. 

The spring beauty, Claytonia lanceolata, is common on the dry 
grassy slopes, and may be known by its low stemless habit, pink 
flowers, and lanceolate leaves from a tuberous root which was used 
by the Indians for food. The Indian basket grass occurs in several 
of the meadows up in this area. In the upper part of Paradise Valley, 
on the ridge west of Sluiskin Falls, there is a large field of it near tim- 



Fig. 35.—Tolmie’s saxifraga (Saxifraga tolmiei). 

Color of flower, white; height of plant, 3 to 4 inches; blooms July and August. 
Photograph by Asahel Curtis. 


her line. These plants are found in full bloom long after those below 
have gone to seed. This plant furnishes an excellent example of 
what altitude does for a plant. It extends from 2,750 feet, at Long- 
mire Springs, to timber line, about 7,000 feet. 

The Alaska spiraea, Lutkea pectinata, forms clusters often exclud¬ 
ing other plants. Its creeping habit enables it to form heather-like 
mats. It has short shrubby stems 4 to 6 inches high, bearing a dense 
raceme of small white flowers; leaves twice or thrice palmately three 
cleft. These mats of sharply cleft bright green leaves are very notice¬ 
able even where the plant is not in bloom. In and among these mats 




44 


FLOE A OF MOUNT RAINIER NATIONAL PARK. 


of Alaska spiraea and heather grows a small form of the pale laurel 
not more than 2 to 4 inches high. It may be known by its saucer¬ 
shaped pink flowers, with pouches for the stamens, and by its ovate 
to lanceolate leaves, dark green above and whitish beneath. 



G? ft £ 


® ^ o 
co r 3 0 ,0 
• '3 P-t 
O xl 


THE FOURTH ZONE. 

The trees which reach timber line are the alpine fir, the alpine 
hemlock, the Alaska cedar, and the white-barked pine. There are a 
few gnarled specimens of the latter on the ridges west of Sluiskin 
Falls, but the alpine fir, alpine hemlock, and Alaska cedar are the 
common trees. The trailing juniper, Juniperus communis sibirica, 
is common at timber line and extends down far below, trailing over 
rocky ledges. Its trailing habit, sharp foliage, and green berries 




FLORA OF MOUNT RAINIER NATIONAL PARK. 


45 


readily distinguish it. One of the most characteristic plants at tim¬ 
ber line is the golden aster, Erigeron aureus. This dainty little plant, 
about 3 or 4 inches high, has bright golden-colored ray flowers and a 
solitary head. The three heathers are common at timber line, at 
which elevation another rather rare heather is added, Harrimanella 
stelleriana. This plant spreads out flat on the ground with the leaves 
extending out from the two sides of the stem, with a terminal single 
flower. Some of the heathers are called Scotch heather, but there is 
very little similarity between our plants and the European. 

A small goldenrod, Solidago scopularum , 6 inches to a foot high, 
grows among the rocks and gnarled trees. This dwarfed plant, with 
its small }^ellow flowers, looks puny when compared with the large 
plants of the fields in lower altitudes. Several asters, erigerons, pent- 
stemons, and painted cups from the lower slopes reach timber line, 
while two or three of these extend beyond into the pumice fields. 
This is also true of the two little woolly cudweeds before mentioned. 

THE FIFTH ZONE. 

In the pumice fields and rocky ledges above timber line one of the 
most beautiful plants is Lyall’s lupine, Lupinus lyallii (figs. 37 and 
38). It extends upward to about 8,000 or 9,000 feet. It is small 
and forms a rosette with its silvery palmate leaves and numerous 
stems, each bearing a short raceme of brilliant blue-purple flowers. 
It blooms soon after the snow disappears, and keeps on blooming 
until about the middle of August. The season for all plants in 
these alpine and subalpine regions is governed by the depth of the 
snow. The position and depth of snowdrifts depend largely on the 
winter conditions, which vary from year to year. The flower beds 
on these pumice fields have many extreme changes. One locality 
may have little snow, while near by may be a drift 20 feet deep. In 
the former the plants spring forth early, while in the latter they are 
buried in snow, which may not thaw for weeks. In the former locality 
the plants may ripen their seeds, while in the latter the autumn snow 
may bury them in full bloom. For this reason the date of blooming 
can not be given as we speak of it in regard to our common plants, 
which vary comparatively little. 

Pentstemou rupicola is one of the most highly-colored plants on 
the mountain. It is often seen on cliffs. It has short, prostrate, 
shrubby stems with thick leaves and rose-crimson flowers. Very 
similar to the above is Pentstemou menziesii with duller purple 
flowers. These extend to an altitude of nearly 8,000 feet. Spraguea 
multiceps grows in the volcanic ash from a thick rootstalk bearing 
several short, stems with entire spatulate leaves and pinkish-brown 
heads. Growing with the above is a member of the dock family, 
Eriogonum pyrolaefolium coryphaeum (fig. 39). This has one to four 


46 


FLORA OF MOUNT RAINIER NATIONAL PARK. 


flowers of a purplish yellow color in an umbel with short flower 
stalks and thick oblong leaves. Polygonum newberryi belongs to 
the same family as the above. It may be known by its somewhat 
prostrate habit, rather fleshy ovate leaves, and small greenish flowers. 

On the storm-swept peaks and ridges in the crevices of the rock 
may be found the tiny lace fern, Cheilanthes gracillima, with its 
numerous thread-like roots securely anchored from the fury of the 
storms. It is seldom more than 3 or 4 inches high. Nature has 
made ample provision for its inclement environment by clothing it 
with a furry woolly garment. It is found on the summit of Pinnacle 
Peak and on Plummer Peak. Sometimes it is found as low as 



Fig. 37.—Lyall’s lupine (Lupinus lyallii). 

Color of flower, bluish purple; height of plant, 2 to 7 inches; blooms July and August. 

Photograph by A. H. Barnes. 

the peaks overlooking the terminal moraines of the glaciers and 
the rocky pinnacles above the road leading from Narada Falls to 
the Nisqually. Its companion plants are the mountain polypody, 
Polypodium hesperium, the kinnikinnik, Arctostaphylos uva-ursi and 
Pentstemon oreopola. Sometimes Phlox diffusa is woven in and out 
among them. A study of any one of these peaks is extremely inter¬ 
esting, whether the student be a botanist or not. 

Competing with LyalTs lupine for first rank as to beauty of foliage 
and brilliancy of flower is Phacelia sericea, an elegant plant of the 
water-leaf family. It may be known by its silvery foliage and 
purplish flowers, stem leafy to the top and leaves pinnately parted 




FLORA OF MOUNT RAINIER NATIONAL PARK. 


47 



into linear divisions. This plant was formerly seen along the trail 
to the summit. The writer failed to see a single plant last summer 
along that route. It doubtless makes too good a souvenir to be let 
alone. Polemonium elegans may be known by its strong odor, 
alternate pinnately parted viscid leaves, and cymulose cluster of 
blue flowers with yellow centers. A small aster, Erigeron composi- 
tum, having pinkish flower and dissected leaves, grows here. Hulsea 
nana , another composite plant, may be known by its large yellow 
flowers, 2 to 6 inches high, with sticky pinnatifid leaves, mostly 
radical, from a long branching rootstock. This plant also is now 


Fig. 38.—Lyall’s lupine (Lupinus lyallii). 

Color of flower, bluish purple; height of plant, 2 to 7 inches; blooms July and August. 

Photograph by A. H. Denman. 

rare along the trail to the summit. It is not likely that the tourist 
would carry this plant after its viscid quality was discovered, though 
its large golden yellow flowers would tempt the flower destroyer 
to pluck it. 

Draba aureola, a yellow mustard, grows rather sparingly on the 
rocky ledges at Camp Muir and at similar altitudes around the 
mountain. Its lower leaves are oblanceolate, usually less than half 
an inch long, and the upper are oblong. It is densely pubescent all 
over, even the oblong seed pods being covered with fine stellate 
hairs. Smelowskia ovalis is another hardy plant which belongs to the 



48 


FLORA OF MOUNT RAINIER NATIONAL PARK. 


mustard family. It has hoary white foliage, creamy white flowers 
in terminal racemes and pinnatifid leaves. These two cruciferous 
plants just mentioned reach a higher altitude than do any other 



Fig. 39 .—Eriogonum pyrolaefolium coryphaeum. 

Color of flower, yellowish purple; height of plant, 3 to 8 inches; blooms July and August. 
Photograph by A. H. Barnes. 

flowering plants on the mountain. Perhaps the smelowskia beats 
its companion a little. Two grasses, Poa lettermani, Poa suksdorfii , 
and a sedge are close competitors for the highest honors. 

o 




INDEX TO SPECIES 


[Roman numerals indicate descriptions or references; italic numerals indicate illustrations.] 


Abies amabilis . 

grandis . 

nobilis . 

Achlys triphylla . 

Adder’s tongue. 

Agoseris alpestris . 

Alaska cedar. 

spiraea. 

Alder. 

Allotropa virgala . 

Alpine beauty. 

fir. 

hemlock.. 

willow. 

Anemone deltoidea . 

occidentalis . 

Anemone, western. 

A ntennaria lanata . 

media . 

Arctic lupine... 

Arctostaphylos uva-ursi . 

Arnica parryi . 

Ash, mountain. 

Aster, golden. 

purple. 

Avalanche lily. 

Barber’s pole. 

Bikukulla formosa . 

Bird’s-foot bramble. 

Bishop’s cap. 

Bear grass. 

Black pine. 

Blue gentian. 

Brake. 

Bramble, bird’s-foot. 

snowy. 

Broad-leafed maple. 

Bunchberry. See Canada dogwood. 

Buttercup, Suksdorf’s. 

Calypso borealis . 

Canada dogwood.. 

Capnoides scouleri . 

Cascara. 

Castilleia . 

mertensiana . 

miniata . 

oreopola . 

Cedar, Alaska. 

white...... 

Cheilanthes gracillima . 

Claytonia lanceolata . 

Clintonia uniflora . 

Coral root. 

Corallorhiza mertensiana . 

multiflora . 

striata . 

Cornus canadensis . 

Cotton grass. 

Cottonwood. 

Cud weeds. 

Currant, mountain. 

Cusick’s speedwell. 

Cytherea bulbosa . 

Dandelion, mountain. 

Deer fern._... 

Deertongue, white mountain. 

Devil’s club. 

Dock, mountain. 

Dodecatheon jeffreyi . 

Dog’s-tooth violet. 

Dog violet. 

Dogwood, Canada. 

Douglas fir. 

Douglas spiraea. 


... 2,13 
2 

... 2.13 
... 19 

... 23 ,24 
33 

12.35.44 

44 
2 

... 4,5 

... 7,7 

... 44,45 

13.35.44 
22 

... 8,8,9 
... 9,10 
24 ,27,28 
40 
40 

... 25, 81 
46 
35 
15 

45 

... 21,M 
... 23 ,24 
... 4,5 

11 
19 
8 

... 17 ,17 
12 

... 35,37 
12 
19 
19 
2 


. 23 ,25 

. 11 

. 6,7 

. 11 

. 2 

. 28 

.38, 38 

. 35 

. 26 

12,35,44,45 

. 2 

. 46 

. 43 

. 7,7 

. 18 

. 18 

. 11 

.. 11 

. 6,7 

. 21 

. 2 

. 40 

. 32 

. 25,35 

. 11 

. 33 

. 11 

. 28,24 

. 2 

. 30 ,34 

. 21,20 

.23 ,24 

. 40 

:::::: e 'I 
. 22 


Draba aureola ... 

Dryopteris spinulosa dilatata . 

Ecmnopanax horridum . 

Edelweiss. 

Elephant’s trunk. 

Elk grass. 

Epilobium luteum . 

Erigeron aureus . 

compositum .- 

Eriogonum pyrolaefolium coryphaeum . 

Eriophorum polystachyon . 

Erythronium . 

montanum . 

Eucephalus ledophyllus . 

Ferns. 

Eir, alpine. 

Douglas. 

lovely. 

noble. 

silver. 

white. 

Fireweed, yellow. 

Forest anemone. 

Gaultheria ovatifolia . 

Gentian, blue. 

Gentiana calycosa . 

Gilia nuttillii . 

Ghost plant. 

Golden aster. 

Goldenrod.. 

Grass, bear. 

cotton. 

elk. 

squaw. 

Grass of Parnassus. 

Harrimanella stelleriana . 

Heather, red. 

white. 

yellow..— 

Heliotrope, mountain. See Valerian. 

Hellebore. 

Hemitomes congestum . 

Hemlock, alpine. 

lowland. 

lowland, western. 

Hulsea nana . 

Indian paintbrush. 

Indian pipe... 

Juniperus communis sibirica . 

Kinnikinnik. 

Lace fern. 

Leptarrhena . 

Lewis’s monkey flower. 

Licorice fern. 

Ligusticum purpureum . 

Lily, Avalanche. 

mountain. 

Linneaa americana . 

Lousewort. 

Lovely fir. 

Lowland hemlock. 

western hemlock. 

Luina hypolcuca . 

Lupinus lyallii . 

subalpinus . 

volcanicus . 

Lutkea pectinata . 

Lyall’s lupine. 

Lycopodium clavatum . 

lucidulum . 

Maple. 

Merten’s coral root. 

Mcrtensia laevigata . 

Mimupus alpinus . 


47 

12 

2 

40 

21 

.. 17, 17 
28 
45 
47 

.. 45 ,48 
21 
22 

.. 23 ,24 
.. 21 , 22 
11,12,46 
35,44,45 

".". 2,13 
.. 2,13 
2 
2 

28 

... 8,8,9 
... . 16 
... 35,37 
35,37 
39 

... 3,3 

45 
45 

... 17 ,17 
21 

... 17, 17 
... 17.77 
... '23 

45 

38, 39,40 
... 38 ,38 
... 38 ,41 


32 

.. 4,6 

13 
13 
2 
47 
26 

.. 3,3 

44 
46 
46 
22 

.. 28,33 

12 

30 

.. 23 ,24 
.. 17 ,17 
.. 16 ,16 
.. 18 ,18 
2 
13 
2 

20 

45 ,46 47 
.. 25 ,31 
38 
43 

46,4 6,47 


11 

2 

18 

25 ,30 
28,33 
























































































































































INDEX TO 


Mittela . 

Moneses uni flora . 

Monkey flower. 

Monotropa uniflora . 

Mountain ash. 

currant. 

dandelion. 

dock. 

heliotrope. See Valerian. 

lily. 

phlox. 

polypody. 

Noble fir. 

Oak fern. 

Oregon wood sorrel. 

Oxalis oregona . 

Paintbrush, Indian. 

Parnassia flmbriata . 

Parnassus grass. 

Parsnip, wild. 

Pedicular is . 

contorta .... 

groenlandica surrecta . 

racemosa .. 

Pentstemon confertus . 

menziesii . 

oreopola .. 

procerus ... 

rupicola . 

Phacelia sericca .. 

Phcgopteris dryopteris . 

Phlox diffusa . 

Phyllodoce empetriformis . 

glanduliflora . 

Pine, black'.. 

white. 

white-barked. 

Pine sap. 

Pinus albicaulis . 

monticola . 

Pipsissewas. 

Poa lettermani . 

. sulisdorfii . 

Polcmonium elegans . 

pulchellum . 

Polygonum bistortoides . 

newberryi . 

Polypodium hesperium . 

occidentale . 

Polypody, mountain. 

Potentilla flabellifolia . 

Prince’s pine. 

Pterospora andromedea . 

Pulsatilla occidentalis . 

Purple aster. 

Pyrola . 

aphylla . 

bracteata . 

picta . 

secunda .. 

Ranunculus sulisdorfii . 

Red heather. 

Rhododendron albiflorum . 

Ribes acerifolium . 

Rosy spiraea. 


22 

4 

28,33 


32 

33 

... 30,34 

... 17, 17 
... 35, 36 
46 
2 
12 
8 
8 

26 

23 

23 

30 

39 

19 

21 

... 18 ,18 
39 

45 

46 
39 

45 

46 
12 

35,33,46 
38, 39,40 
... 38 ,41 
12 
12 
35 

... 4,5 

35 

12 

... 6,18 
48 
48 

47 

... 25, 32 
... 30,34 
46 
46 
12 
46 

23,35,35 


.. 4,5 

24, 27,28 
.. 21 ,22 
.. 4,18 
4 
4 
4 
4 

.. 23,35 
38 ,39,40 
13, 14,15 
32 

... 22,28 


LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 


SPE' 


m. 0 005 347 223 O 

nivalis . 

pedatus . 

Salal. 

Saxifraga . 

Saxifraga bronchialis . 

caespitosa . 

tolmiei . 

Salix commutata. 

Seed pods of anemone. 

Senecio triangularis . 

Shooting star. 

Silene sulisdorfii . 

Silver fir. 

Smelowskia ovalis . 

Snowy bramble. 

Solidago scopularum . 

Sorbus occidentalis . 

Speedwell, Cusick’s. 

Spiraea, Alaska. 

Spiraea densiflora . 

Spraguea multiceps . 

Spring beauty. 

Squaw grass. 

Struthiopteris spicant . 

Suksdorf’s buttercup. 

silene. 

Sweet-after-death. 

Sweet clover. 

Swiss edelweiss. 

Sword fern. 

Thuja plicata . 

Tiarella trifoliata . 

unifoliata .. 

Tolmie’s saxifrage. 

Trailing juniper. 

Trautvetteria grandis . 

Twin flower.. 

Usnea . 

Valerian. 

Valeriana sitchensis .. 

Vanilla leaf. 

Veratrum viride . 

Veronica cusicliii . 

Vine maple.... 

Viola retroscabra ... 


sempervirens .,. 

Violet, dog. 

dog’s tooth....... 

early. 

Western hemlock... 

anemone. 8, 9,10, 24, 

White-barked pine. 

White cedar. 

fir. 

heather. 

mountain deertongue. 

pine.•. 

rhododendron.. 13, 

Willow, common Alpine. 

Wintergreen, or Pyrola . 

Xerophyllum tenax . 

Yellow fireweed. 

heather. 

mustard. 


19 
19 
19 
16 
22 
41,44 

41 
41,43 
22 
9 

35:! 
20, 21i 
41,43' 

2 
47 
19 
45 
15 
25,35 
43 
22 
45 

43 
17 ,17 

11 
23,351 
41,43* 

19 
19 
40 
11 
2 
8 
8 

41.43 

44 
19 

16, 16 
13 
25, 29 
25, 29 
19 
32 
25,35 
2 

40 Si 
40 I 
40 * 

23,24 
40 
2 

27,28 

35.44 
2 
2 

38, 38 
23,24 
12 
14,15 
22 
4 

17 ,17 
28 
38 ,41 
47 


































































































































































































